STW #20: Royal Rumble 1997

On this episode: What happened when the WWF set their eyes on the enormous Alamo Dome for their 1997 Royal Rumble? Find out as Bruce and Conrad bring you behind the scenes on a very eclectic Royal Rumble!
Something to Wrestle with Bruce Prichard is an audio podcast that discusses topics, events, wrestlers and memorable moments through the lens of former WWE executive Bruce Prichard co-hosted by Conrad Thompson.
The show was launched in August 2016 on MLW Radio. The episodes typically range from 2 hours to 4 hours in length, and include discussions about previous WWE pay-per-views and former WWE wrestlers.
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[@cloversocelot]

8:35 start your welcome 🙏

[@michaelkeller5927]

Dude thank you

[@GetOnTheFloor82]

8:35 - welcome

[@arneandersen9628]

thx

[@jonathangriffith4189]

Fuck you 🍅

[@CeemPlay]

Jonathan Griffith no u

[@Super122291]

Thanks babe ❤️

[@jasoncoward-aintscared]

TY

[@matthewmartn6815]

I appreciate what Conrad does I enjoy the show great deal but sometimes I wish Bruce would just give him a good old stunner

[@MrBooBeeDoo]

Why would Bruce use Stone Colds finisher?

[@chrisgibbs1053]

Me Hughes definitely should have been in the Nation

[@stefspin3057]

This is one of the greatest channels of all time. Just started to watch raw from jan 96 till jan 2004 in sequence all raws smackdowns and ppvs and tonite is.....RR 97. Puuuuuuurfect👍...who needs game of thrones when u got the wwe network.

[@stefspin3057]

@Chris Terry man me too, i cant get enough. For me, it stopped being entertaining around like 2004ish, beforw that i was and i am obsessed. Attitude era 4 Lyfe

[@trurobertson]

I'm at 1997 right before Bret leaves ...

[@Dredsed]

You should watch mid south and mid atlantic instead.

[@stefspin3057]

@@trurobertson you still at it? I took a break for a few months....im just at before wrestlemania 2000...this shit is just too damn entertaining 😆✊

[@Dredsed]

@@stefspin3057 Then you dont have a clue

[@quays07]

This has to be the best podcasts bruce and conrad really bounce off each other

[@robrico129]

Glad I found you podcast... These are awesome.. Still looking for episode on HBK 96-98... Thanks for the great content.

[@TheIndustrialRetrospective]

Agreeded! I love the new generation stuff!

[@wrestlemaniamaniac3338]

He passes him a piece of paper saying fuck Dave meltzer 😂I'm weak

[@FatLadyKiller]

You're weak? Ok.. 🙄

[@mikeanthony718]

This was my second p pv, that I got to see in person,my first was survior series 94, both where GREAT!

[@CAMZAB]

Good that you got to go.

[@enigmaticpsychocw]

1997s Royal Rumble is the most unique Rumble match of all time. Bret Hart winning and then Steve Austin sneaking back in and stealing the victory is just genious writing.

[@maxwelljacobfreedom]

Can't say the same for your comment where you misspelled genius

[@giangarcia3364]

1:46:45 gets me everytime, oh my lord.

[@jamesvigg2680]

#LoveToKnow -- Bruce mentions that El Santo was given consideration to be brought in, and Mil Mascaras was brought in. Was any thought given to Blue Demon?? He was younger than Mil at the time, and arguably just as well-known, especially after his 1992 face turn. But he never worked for WWE or WCW. As The Hurricane would say, "Wassup wit dat??"

[@cryptozoomauler5505]

Is Conrad the only one who cares about the $ figures? I want to hear about the wrestling and backstage stuff. I love the Terry Funk story.

[@joemama7163]

No he isn't. I love all the backstory.

[@jtaco4101]

I'm highly curious about the finances of the business absolutely.

[@Dredsed]

It's because he's a mortgage guy. Its usually interesting but sometimes he gets too granular

[@kingsgambit9561]

I love when Bruce does Terry Funk impersonations 🤣

[@Difrentstyles]

This one was great had to leave a comment so funny good shit

[@ssjrblack1365]

I was at this pay per view, awesome show!

[@rackballjones6585]

Prove it

[@Rschr101]

No you weren't.

[@jkrausser]

They have a boxing ring, not a wrestling ring spinning in the background.

[@jackharper8076]

haha nice pickup, i never pay attention to the pics for their podcast

[@Dom_721]

Listen to the episode and you will find out why

[@mikestelly4917]

When Bruce said Beaumont was max capacity he was wrong the building could hold up to 18000 not only 5...I was there that night also

[@gregharper6382]

Lol how funny is it now that he said everybody goes back except for me🤣 2:05:53

[@Hunnybunchesntotes]

Dandy Don was also QB for the Dallas Cowboys during his playing days.

[@tc7584]

I can remember watching Ahmed Johnson and he had an incredible look and I always wondered waht happened to the guy. He just disappeared one day.

[@devendemarchi1500]

Every time he got a push, he would get injured. When he left WWE, he went to WCW for a little bit and nothing ever came from it

[@jackharper8076]

Ahmed Johnson always had an incredible wedgie almost every single match lol

[@Rschr101]

He was injury prone and dangerous in the ring. Also has a terrible complex that people are out to get him and the white man was holding him back blah blah blah. Dude could have been huge, now hes just...huge.

[@RealAlphaDrum]

Love this edition of the show, but dang the EQs are way off from one another.

[@Dredsed]

Bruce Prichard has seen more than most.

[@mox19380]

LOVE the "well double fuck you too" (1:33:50) -it's strange that it starts with Conrad challenging the logic of playing such a large venue in a mid market in a down wrestling market...then 10 minutes later discussing how it's the second largest US wrestling show, biggest texas wrestling show in history - Really appreciate some of the background regarding the booking of the rumble.

[@The_Sage_of_Six_Paths]

Jesus Christ Conrad spent SOOOO much time talking talking about attendance! We get the point!

[@greyjedi6430]

Really have no idea how many times I've heard this lol

[@kingsgambit9561]

I’m just here for the “Mexico is a f**ked up place” T-shirt 😂

[@Eric-wu7bp]

How about WWE Is a Fucked up Company 😂

[@Gorski122]

Conrad does a fine job, but no show without Bruce Pal!!! It’s STW WITH .... Bruce Prichard😚

[@tommybritton9335]

He makes me laugh when he does a Vince impressions

[@marklupo3441]

I love his Vince. But his dusty might be a little better than Cornys lol

[@TheRobbieCorbett]

P

[@WOLVES19861]

Pro nouns pal

[@dalynsanders]

"Your going down!!!!"... So so cringe but Ahmed is the man

[@joeyzapata6786]

If only Ahmed learned how to work, I'd argue he might have went down as one of the all time greats.

[@CubeTX]

"You Tony Dow!"

[@Provos7777]

Vince promoted boxing back in the 1980's. He promoted a fighter from Ireland named Sean Mannion

[@strathroyaaron]

"f u, it's my show" oh really, I don't recall the show being Soething to wrestle with Conrad Thompson... you're a pawn buddy.

[@carbonsilkthread]

It’s very amusing but right before our ears we hear a couple of friends who are in an awkward argument w/ each other start to rekindle and overcome their fight. Bruce was so irritated in the beginning and Conrad knew it could be a shit podcast. Once Bruce stops being reluctant to doing the Vince voice, they start to get right back on point. Classic!

[@stanleywojculewski1136]

Conrad: Dave Meltzer reports the sky is blue. Bruce: That Meltzer and his dirtsheet is so full of sh*t Conrad: Set the record straight, Bruce. What color is the sky? Bruce: Blue

[@mox19380]

hahahaha. perfect

[@BeeBumper]

Meltzer is never that accurate

[@strathroyaaron]

fake Diesel was eliminated by Bret, not by Austin

[@Rschr101]

Ok.

[@darthbigred22]

@1:36:17 I always thought it was funny as much shit as WWF talked about the South and WCW, that the two voices of the Attitude era are JR and King who are two hicks. Plus SCSA is Texan and the Rock claimed Florida as his home at the time so it was a pretty southern production on top.

[@nosyargerdna]

Who's theme is played at 2:56:37?? Sounds sooo dark & coldd!!

[@jasonbudrow7376]

Zeus

[@CAMZAB]

Conrad is from Alabama. Ok, I honestly thought Denver, Colorado because of the South Park-style accent.

[@Dredsed]

Open ur ears

[@nathang.sellers181]

On a three hour podcast about a three hour pay per view they spent over an hour on ticket sales...love the show but not their best work. In my humble opinion.

[@travismcdonald6576]

Nathan Sellers Prichard Just couldn’t admit that Michaels wasn’t a huge draw.

[@jasonbailey960]

Couldn't agree more

[@CAMZAB]

That would be a great tag line for this episode.

[@chrishowe4009]

That's what Conrad does. He likes to bring money into it all because he's a mortgage guy.

[@cryptozoomauler5505]

Bruce is wrong. "Everyone eventually goes back there - except for me." He's back with the WWE now. 2:05:03 Congrats, though, Bruce. You deserve it, even though you were being Mr. Pessimist.

[@5th_horsemen]

Ahmed made his tv debut at a raw in Sept of 95 in gr mi....i was there

[@AllieZelda]

Ahmed and his Johnson

[@russmangus]

Bruce is the drizzling shits in this episode

[@tnadrg1982]

I saw him first at iyh 3 in saginaw live in a dark match

[@rackballjones6585]

Prove it

[@xzzz444x9]

1:18:57 lmao!!!

[@koolaidman531]

Juuuuuunior!!!!

[@colinblaine3552]

Damn, Conrad was on one.

[@andrebdd5818]

Conrad: why didn't you just go for 50000 instead of 70000 so you can guarantee a sell out Conrad would be the type of general who tells his crew to pack their white surrender flags before going into a battle

[@philjoyce1548]

His fucking Vince impressions....great as fuck

[@zeek3580]

1:22:00 vic venom predicts rumble clip

[@TrueLagoon]

1:13:04 No yob!

[@LeoWhalen1933]

Thank you!😂😂😂 This is why I'm here.

[@JSmith83]

The Bulldog said “cos I’m the dog!” - not “I’m bizarre!” Lol @ 2:02:22

[@CasualVideoGamer]

Listening to it on my VHS, it really, honestly DOES sound like "cause I'm BIZARRE!"

[@JSmith83]

Jesse Lee lol it’s funny nonetheless

[@Dredsed]

Nope

[@josephboza7448]

Shawn didn't have a knee injury. It has always been believed Shawn didn't want to job to Bret Hart at that mania. Shawn thought he was hot shit. This is kinda like Summerslam 1992 when it was first booked for DC but moved to London, England due to British Bulldog's popularity. It still crazy that they changed Vader to face Undertaker in a random ass match. Those 2 really didn't have a feud, all it did was further the issues between Paul Bearer and Undertaker. Bruce wants to know why Wrestlemania 13 wasn't one of the best PPV, take a look at this PPV and the road to Wrestlemania, such a big CLUSTERFUCK.

[@Dredsed]

Nothing like Summer Slam 92 at all.

[@thekingofkingsrp]

I would take it over what we got now....

[@BeeBumper]

He likely had an injury but it was far from career ending and he knew it. You could see how pissed Vince was interviewing Shawn when he dropped the belt to no one. It was all over his face. Especially when Shawn attempted to hug Vince. He was red faced and scowling

[@josephboza7448]

@@BeeBumper yeah he had to justify why Undertaker became a 2x WWE Champion

[@azulral]

@@BeeBumper That whole thing reeked Vince making Shawn go out there and explain to the audience why he was quitting. Like saying I don't buy your bull shit sell it to them, and then he did so, without remorse.

[@henryocean5714]

I always appreciate Bruce "No, not necessarily" Prichard

[@calamaty9963]

I was at this Royal Rumble yeah it was loud.

[@LeoWhalen1933]

That's because the people who were there wanted to be there!

[@dalynsanders]

Ahmed Johnson episode?

[@henhowell2433]

And then that damn Bell had to ring...

[@matthewmartn6815]

Is it too late to vote I'm only like 3 years late

[@marcbeauregard9185]

Davey Boy Smith didn't say he was going to win the Rumble "because I'm bizarre"... what I always thought he said is "Because I'm berserk" and seriously, it makes a lot more sense...

[@Dredsed]

Would make sense. Not what he said.

[@justinorel6592]

2:48:52 bumping for the industry

[@governorerbe839]

49:45 SNAP

[@jihmns]

Meltzer

[@jaserogers997]

#CountryMath

[@BeeBumper]

1500 isn't low. Who listens to radio much anymore. I went from daily listening to never listening this Last 15 years

[@nickmorgan8078]

One of my top three favorite episodes!

[@markmenning1804]

Is WWE losing a lot of money by not selling tickets during Corona virus?

[@johnnieriot13]

Well they’re projected to have the most profitable year to date so..... they can’t be losing that much

[@jihmns]

Dave

[@quays07]

Bruce's version of vince is better than vince's version of vince

[@fredstone2858]

what walk up mean.

[@waynebryant6483]

People who come that day to buy tickets instead of having bought them in advance

[@justinkelly9526]

Conrad sounds like a big baby in this and like he doesn't know what he's talking about. Then when Bruce says something that makes sense and he realizes that Bruce is correct, instead of saying "oh ok you're right", he'll say something condescending like "my grandfather would say you'll argue the horns off a billygoat" and makes it seem like he just can't be wrong because he's the all knowing biggest fan ever they has multiple podcasts with people that were actually there in the business, so that makes him correct.

[@scotthitman1]

I heard jose had a brother......his name was hose b

[@FilmThePoliceFTP]

Dude. Ahmed was over like rover.

[@Rschr101]

And then the bell rang.

[@gojirajenkins8528]

Stone Cold !!!!

[@BFB1687]

Christ, Conrad, not everything is a fn rib!

[@InstagramAWrestlingHistorian]

It was bullshit Austin didn't main event Wrestlemania XIII.

[@shadowman2192]

1:54:33 Bruce gets hot

[@Rschr101]

Bruce was pissed from the beginning when Conrad was questioning booking the rumble in a dome.

[@big_dro1713]

FYI we can hear you at 1:09:58

[@cloversocelot]

I cant

[@johnnieriot13]

Hear what?

[@big_dro1713]

@@johnnieriot13 Sorry it is at 1:08:58

[@big_dro1713]

@@cloversocelot Sorry it is at 1:08:58

[@chrisr486]

Meltzer is lame

[@TheSweetestScience]

Hahahaha 😆😂🤣

[@joeyzapata6786]

And lives rent free in Prichard's head.

[@TheBrister]

The original plan would have been Vader defending against bret at the December pay per view because the Austin bret match at SS was a number 1 contender match.

[@Dredsed]

No it wasn't a contenders match your are talking bs

[@TheBrister]

@@Dredsed right before the match Todd pettengill interviews Austin and he says that the winner gets a title shot.

[@Dredsed]

@@TheBrister Ahhhh you!!! You got me you're right. My apologies and fuck me for being a smartass. They did drop that in pretty late though and hadnt advertised it that way leading up I believe.

[@TheTEAMBUTLER]

97. The top year wwf/e have ever been

[@FilmThePoliceFTP]

My second wwf paperview... first was survivor series 96

[@hooksncrosses3419]

We all remember our first. Mine was Summerslam 91

[@mattd3407]

PAY-PER-VIEW wtf u really think paper view makes sense?

[@Mm-xx7tf]

Funny. Stw, grilling jr, and 83 weeks combined have less subscribers than Corny does. Long live our savior Corny.

[@Rschr101]

Lotta losers out there. Cornette likes to watch guys sleep with his wife. Find a new god.

[@FatLadyKiller]

Cornette is a total joke in the industry. Only confused marks think anything he says matters

[@trurobertson]

The Rock said in his book that he got his speaking in third person from Deion Sanders , but there was some mention of JR. JR was there for The Rock a great deal in the beginning

[@neilsun2521]

The AAA sending out fake Mysterio-esque wrestlers reminds me of when Paul McCartney of The Beatles was replaced in 1966. It's terrible that this Faul/Bill guy tours the world as "Paul McCartney" still today.

[@vinson311]

Where do I sign up and get my foil hat?

[@Dredsed]

Casual

[@joeygrunge]

As a life long wrestling fan I love hearing all of this... But every episode is so difficult to get through because of that host. Why does he shit on everything? He comes across as a defeated Wrasslin fan... Get over it.

[@ChrisHonowayOFFICIAL]

USWA and SMW were absolutely minor league. Just watch where they taped the TV shows. USWA looked like a cable access station and SMW was taped at high school gyms

[@FreneticZetetic]

I definitely agree. I'm sure it was standard for a time/in a territory, but I grew up in Boston and with WWF, and that was my measuring stick. In fact, I just checked out some SMW on The Network, and the production is embarrassing, lol. Cornette fucking RULES though.

[@maxxdahl6062]

I see north eastern wrestling as absolute shit minor league.

[@RealAlphaDrum]

1:41:08 What you all came here for

[@joemama7163]

Royal Rumble 97 stunk and this podcast followed suit. 1 🌟

[@thetouch315]

To much about tickets, buy rates and marketing. Wished it more about actual show.

[@joemazza2583]

thetouch315 agreed.. I could legit give 2 shits how much money they made or how many tickets they sold

[@CarlosGarcia-ng9xw]

Why is Bruce getting away with mocking the luchadors with that horrible accent

[@darthbigred22]

@37:49 I would be shocked to hear that now. Mexicans as a whole treat Taco Bell like it's the worst option available but I'm over here in West Texas where they are more likely to have street vendors and people literally selling from the back of their cars (thanks for keeping those borders open America).

[@TheBrister]

I wish Bruce wasn't so pissy and argumentative this whole episode. One of those times they should have recorded this later.

[@billdonahue3765]

conrad, can u take out the ads on yt

[@KORANHORACIO]

Pay them

[@Superior_uno]

Conrad was cringe. Bruce made all the sense and Conrad didn’t get it. Acting like a dumb fanboy

[@supershawn77]

‘Folks’ what a Jim Ross wannabe! Annoying!

[@jdh9219]

The worst part about Conrad podcasts so often is Conrad. It’s beyond irritating that he has to act like a prosecutor with information that he gets from glorified gossip columns. Him, Meltzer, and other dirt sheet writers” sometimes act like experts in a business they have NEVER been a part of in any way other than talking about it. One of them will say something like “This is obviously what you should have done” as if they have some insight and experience in promoting shows or writing tv etc. It just gets tiring and it’s so awkward to listen to someone be argumentative, smug, arrogant, and sarcastic about stuff they’ve never done and have no firsthand knowledge about. Shows like this and 83 weeks would be so much better if he didn’t ALWAYS have to do that over “facts” he got from gossip leeches like Dave Meltzer.

[@FatLadyKiller]

Conrad makes this show totally unlistenable. No one wants to hear a spoiled mark that thinks he knows better than someone that actually worked there. He thinks people listen for him. "RolL tiDe DUURRRURR" 🙄 These days Bruce sadly doesn't even give anything other than the bare minimum. They need to just stop this show.

[@sanatvij6327]

Boring episode